Beaming Solar Power From Space: Orbital & Virtus Join Forces

• Orbital Composites and Virtus Solis join forces to develop a megawatt-scale space-based solar power station that will beam energy down to Earth. Japan and China are already investing and it could revolutionize renewable energy worldwide. Learn more.

Two companies, Orbital Composites and Virtus Solis, have announced a collaboration to build a megawatt-scale space-based solar power station that can collect energy from the Sun and beam it down to Earth. Orbital will supply its in-space manufacturing expertise while Virtus will develop the power station electronics and antennas. Japan plans to pilot the technology in 2025 and China has already built a massive tower for space-based solar power experiments. This new public and private interest in space-based solar power could revolutionize renewable energy.

Can Space-Based Solar Revolutionize Renewables?

Here are additional points that can answer the question, “Can Space-Based Solar Revolutionize Renewables?”

• Space-based solar energy technologies have been a potential energy solution for a while, but the technology has yet to be developed into a practical use.
• In order to revolutionize renewables, some of the main challenges that need to be solved in order to use space-based solar include:
      - Creating efficient solar panels that can collect energy from the sun in space
      - Finding ways to transport the energy from space to Earth
      - Creating a cost-effective system for the entire process
  
• Space-based solar farms could potentially provide more energy than terrestrial solar farms due to their ability to collect energy for 24 hours a day, as well as the advantage of being in space where there is less atmosphere to absorb the sun’s rays.
• If space-based solar technology can be advanced enough to become cost-effective and efficient, it could revolutionize the renewable energy industry and provide clean energy to people all over the world.